Underframe for side cars and like attachments for velocipedes, cycles, and like road vehicles



G. S. WRIGHT ET AL UNDERFRAME FOR SIDE CARS AND LIKE ATTACHMENTS FOR VELOCIPEDES, CYCLES AND LIKE ROAD VEHICLES I Filed Sept. 2, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet April 20 1926.

Fig. 1.

INVENTORS. 0mm wmam 1', mm; murmur.

r- ATTOR NEY.

April 20 1926. 1,581,150

G. S. WRIGHT ET AL- v UNDERFRAME FOR SIDE CARS AND LIKE ATTACHMENTS FOR VELOCIPEDES, CYCLES, AND LIKE ROAD VEHICLES I Filed Sept. '2, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4. I k

4A I, L\ '//////'/////h a g/ X mvsmom GERALD 5. WRIGHT THOMAS F.W. WRlGllT..

ATTORNEY.

r Y D m q Ill? CARS AND LIKE ATTACHMENTS FOR G. s. WRIGHT ET AL Filed Sept. 2, 1924, 3 Sheets- Sheet 5 April 20,1926.

UNDERFRAME FOR SIDE VELDCI PEDES, CYCLES. AND LIKE ROAD VEHICLES ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT oF-Flcs.

GERALD SHUGKBURGH WEIGHT AND THOMAS FRANCIS WILLIAM WRIGHT, OF

LONDON, ENGLAND.

UNDEBFRAME FOR SIDE CARS AND LIKE ATTACHMENTS FOR VELOCIPEDES, CYCLES,

AND LIKE ROAD VEHICLES.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GERALD SHUCK- BURGH WRIGHT and THOMAS FRANCIS WIL- LIAM WVRIGHT, subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underframes for Side Cars and 7 like Attachments for Velocipedes Cycles, and like Road Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toimprovements in underframes for side-cars and like attachments for velocipedes, cycles and like road vehicles of the kind in which the front connector is reversible and the rear connector and wheel axle are reversible and interchangeable, and being particularly suited to motor-cycle side-cars it will be hereinafter described in that application.

Now an object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of underframe of the kind referred to which is adapted for either left or right hand attachment to, for example, a motor-cycle. Thus all underframes held in stock will be suited for right or left hand attachment to, for example, a motor-cycle, so that no delay in fitting up a side-car combination occurs by reason of the underframes in stock being suited for one side only.

Also an object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of underframe which while noted for its strength and rigidity can be efficiently made under conditions lending themselves to manufacturing economies. v

In carrying the present invention into practical effect. reference is made to the accompanying two sheets of drawings in which there is shewn by way of example two forms of underframes under the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a side-car underframe according to one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and

Fig. 8 an end view thereof. a

Fig. 4: is a section of a piece of channel steel of which the frame is built up.

Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the arrange ment for securing the front connector to the frame.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively side elevation and plan of another form of under- 2, 1924. Serial No. 735,451.

is bolted to one end of a crank shaped member e of chamiel steel. The tubular piece 0 is arranged to be secured tothe frame mem-.

ber a from either side. For this purpose there are slldably mounted in the frame member a two blocks f, f, recessed to receive the tubular piece 0 and correspondingly recessed blocks 9, g are provi-dedfor holding the tubular piece 0 in position. The blocks 9, g, are bolted to a bearing plate It located on the upper side of the frame member a, and by means of nuts j, j which bear on the plate It, the blocks 9, g are drawn towards the frame and the tubular piece 0 is firmly gripped.

To the other end of the cranked member 6 is bolted the flattened end is of the spindle Z for connecting to the cycle.

Each end of the cross member Z) is bent up at right angles to form brackets m, m for holding the rear connector n and the wheel axle Z.

The rear connertor and the wheel axle are made equal in diameter so as to be interchangeable.

Each bracket forms a'housing for a split end grip 0 or 0 for securing the rear connector n and wheel axle Z to the frame. The rear connector 12 and wheel spindle may be inserted on either side of the frame according to the side coupling required.

Other ways of securing the front and rear connectors and the wheel spindle may 'be adopted.

The rear connector a is provided with a flange joint 39 for attaching to the cycle.

The brackets on, m may be strengthened by the triangular plates 9 bolted thereto, and to the horizontal cross member I). These plates q are slotted to receive the limbs of the frame member a and also the springs 1. These plates assist in holding the limbs of the frame member and also the springs in spaced relationship.

The body of the side-car 1s mounted on the springs T which are bolted to the frame. a

The construction shewn in Figs. 7 and 8 is particularly useful as an unde rframe for a light weight side-car. The horizontal frame is made T shape and the blade 8 of the T may be bolted to the cross piece t and strengthened by two plates u. The shaped frame may be of channel steel w1th its parallel flanges vertical and directed downwards as before.

The tubular piece 0 of the front connector is secured to the blade 3 of the frame by a pair of U clips 1; the limbs of which pass through bearing plate h, the nuts 1, j serving to draw the tubular piece 0 tightly up to the frame. n

As in the previous embodiment the cross piece If is bent at each end to form brackets m, m', and the rear connector 12 and wheel axle Z are held in the split end grlps 0, 0 housed in the brackets. The wheel axle Z is shouldered at 2 and secured by the castle nut 3 to one orother of the brackets m, m according to the side coupllng required.

A The frame may be strengthened by a steel bar w having its ends screw threaded for bolting to the cross piece 25 of the frame. The ends of the bar to pass through the plates g. The blade 8 is recessed at a: for the reception of the curved portion of the steel bar 'w. n

A stay member y pivoted at a to the cross piece t maybe provided for fittmg to the saddle pillar of the cycle.

Thus in underframes constructed according to the present invention, the front connector, the rear connector, and the wheel spindle, may be positioned and secured'to the frame to conform either to a right hand coupling or to a left hand coupling with the motor-cycle.

Channel steel lends itself to the manufacture'of the underframes made under the present invention as it is well suited for the reception of the various fittings and conned tions and while possessing strength and rigidity can be economically manufactured. No claim is made to the use of channel steel per se.

With a construction under the present invention it is possiblesto secure a low centre of gravity for the side-car or the like.

What we claim is 1. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination, a frame, a reversible front connector detachably secured to the frame, a cross member of the frame having upturned ends, a rear connector and wheel I axle detachably mounted on said upturned ends, and securing means on said upturned ends arranged so that the rear connector and Wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described.

2. A side-car or like underframe accordin g to claim 1 hereof, wherein the cross memher is of channel section substantially as described.

3. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination a frame bent to U form and closed. by a cross member having upstanding end components, the frame and. cross member being of channel section with its parallel flanges vertical and directed downwardly, a reversible front connector detachably secured to the frame, a rear connector and wheel axle detachably mounted on said upturned ends, and securing means on said upturned ends arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described.

4. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination, a frame, a reversible front connector, detachably secured to the frame, a cross member of the frame having upturned ends, strengthening plates connected to said cross member, a rear con nector and wheel axle detachably mounted on said upturned ends, and securing means on said upturned ends arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described. A

5. A side-car or like underframe according to claim 4 hereof, wherein the strengthening plates engage the limbs of the frame. 6. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination, a frame, a reversible front connector, detachably secured to the frame, a cross member of the frame having upturned ends, strengthening plates connected to said cross member, said plates engagmg the limbs of the frame, the mounting springs, and a rear connector and wheel axle detachably mounted on said upturned ends, and securing means on said upturned ends arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged substantially as described. i Y 7. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination, a frame, a reversible front connector, detachably secured to the frame, a cross member of the frame having upturned ends, strengthening plates connected to said cross member, clamp grips on said upturned ends, and a rear connector and wheel axle detachably secured on the up turned ends by said clamp grips, and arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described.

8. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination, a frame, a reversible front connector, detachably secured tolthe ra ne, a cross member of the frame having upturned ends, clamp grips housed in said upturned ends, and a rear connector and wheel axle detachably secured on the upturned ends by said clamp grips, and arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described.

9. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination, a frame, a reversible front connector in sectional lengths, said front connector being detachably secured to the frame, a cross member of the frame having upturned ends, strengthening plates connected to said cross member, a rear connector and wheel axle detachably mounted on said upturned ends, and securing means on said upturned ends arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described.

10. Side-car or like underframe according to claim 1 having the front connector se-- cured byblocks bolted to a bearing plate.

11. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination a frame bent to U form and closed by a cross member having upstanding end components, the frame and cross member being of channel section with its parallel flanges vertical and directed downwardly, strengthening plates connected to said cross member, a reversible front connector detachably secured to the frame, a rear connector and wheel axle detachably mounted on said upturned ends, and securing means on said upturned ends arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described.

12. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination a frame bent to U form and closed by a cross member having upstanding end components, the frame and cross member being of channel section with its parallel flanges vertical and directed downwardly, strengthening plates connected to said cross member, said plates engaging the limbs of the frame and the mounting springs, a reversible front connector detachably secured to the frame, a rear connector and wheel axle detachably mounted on said upturned ends, and securing means on-said upturned ends arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described.

13. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination a frame bent to U form and closed by a cross member having upstanding end components, the frame and cross member being of channel section with its parallel flanges vertical and directed downwardly, strengthening plates connected to said cross member, a reversible front connector in sectional lengths detachably secured to the frame, a rear connector and wheel axle detachably mounted on said upturned ends, and securing means on said upturned ends arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged, substantially as described.

14;. A side-car or like underframe comprising in combination a frame bent to U form and closed by a cross member having upstanding end components, the frame and cross member being of channel section with its parallel flanges vertical and directed downwardly, strengthening plates connected to said cross member, a reversible front connector detachably secured to the frame, clamp grips housed in said upstanding end components, and a rear connector and wheel axle detachably secured on the upstanding end components by said clamp grips, and arranged so that the rear connector and wheel axle can be reversed and interchanged substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we aifix our signatures.

GERALD SHUCKBURGH WRIGHT. THOMAS FRANCIS WILLIAM WRIGHT. 

